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Developed By: Abby Johnson
Arcola Elementary School
Lesson Plan: Rocks, Sand and Weathering
Title: Rocks/Sand
Science Process Skills: observation
Materials Needed: sand from different places (different beaches, rivers, different consistencies), digital
microscopes, microscopes, Petri dishes (to put sand in), Simple Sand Key sheet, Sand on Stage
worksheet
Reference Sources: http://www.uhh.hawaii.edu/affiliates/prism/documents/WhatisSandLessonFour.pdf,
http://microscope-microscope.org/applications/sand/microscopic-sand.htm and
http://www.seaworld.org/just-for-teachers/classroom-activities/4-8/pdf/Sand%20Lab.pdf
Science Standard: matter and energy
Target Grade Level: 2nd grade
Description (5E Model):
Engage: What do you know about sand? Show pictures from “Rocks and Minerals” by Jack Challoner. Explain Sand on Stage
worksheet and pass out sand samples in Petri dishes.
Explore: Use digital microscope to take a picture of their sand sample
Have students work on Sand on Stage worksheet
Explain: Using Simple Sand Key help identify sand grains and discuss the process of weathering
Elaborate: Let students use individual microscopes to compare different sand samples.
Evaluate: Have students write their observations about their sand and their comparison sand in their
science journals and draw a picture of the sand or of certain sand crystals.
Citation of children's book: Challoner, Jack. (1999). Rocks and Minerals. Milwaukee, WI.
The second grade students were so excited to use the digital microscopes. The focus of their science unit was weathering and rocks.
The students had sand samples from different geographical areas. They were to observe their sand samples and make an inference
where their sand sample might have been collected. They had a sample from a Florida beach, a sample from a local quarry and a
sample from a Lake Michigan beach. The digital microscopes provided fantastic details and the IPFW educator major was able to use
the pictures on the computer to draw out ideas about weathering by pointing out the bits and pieces of shells and small parts of rocks.
The second grade students were amazed. This was the last lesson of the semester for the IPFW education major and she had
progressed in her confidence in using the digital microscopes. When she first used the digital microscopes with first graders and
insects in August much of her teaching energies went to just managing the technology and the first grade students. In December after
using the digital microscopes multiple times with students over the semester, she was very confident with the technology and spent
more of her teaching time developing the science concept. It was wonderful to see her confidence grow in using the technology. She
shared at the end of the semester, how much she hopes to have digital microscopes as resource when she begins teaching.
The pictures of the sand were displayed in the hallway as pieces of art. Some of the challenges to displaying the pictures as artwork
was the school’s printer was only black and white and of poor quality. The wonderful colors and details observed on the computer
screen were not translated to the hard copy.
The second grade teachers observing the digital microscope technology being used in their classroom immediately show the potential
of the technology. Since the software had been installed on the two computers in their classroom, they requested to use the
microscopes for a couple of weeks. At the time of the sand lesson, these teachers had a special writing project they were working on
with the second grade students. The students were to bring in an object that reminded them of a special memory. The students used
the object to help them write two or three descriptive paragraphs. The teachers had their students use the digital microscopes to take
pictures of their objects. The second grade teachers then had the pictures developed as photographs. The photographs were attached
to the descriptive paragraphs and displayed as a bulletin board. The photographs and paragraphs were wonderful. Not only did the
second grade teachers start using the digital microscopes after seeing them used with an IPFW science experience, but the first and
fourth grade teachers as well have begun to request to use the digital microscopes for their classrooms.
Second Grade Bulletin Board
Second Grade
Dept, Class,
Grade Level
Student work/project
Intended use of equipment
Indiana grade level standard
addressed
Grade 2
•
Compare and contrast properties of
different types of sand and soil
•
Sand picture art exhibition
•
•
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IFPW students teach use
and care of equipment and
facilitate discussions
during observations.
Second grade students
study properties of rocks,
sand, and soil using
equipment
•
Students predict and draw
conclusions about
weathering of rocks
•
Photographs will be
displayed in art exhibition
throughout the school.
2.1.2 Use tools, such as thermometers,
magnifiers, rulers, or balances, to gain
more information about objects
2.1.3 Describe, both in writing and
verbally, objects as accurately as possible
and compare observations with those of
other people.
2.1.6 Use tools to investigate, observe,
measure, design, and build things.
2.3.3 Investigate by observing and then
describing chunks of rocks and their many
sizes and shapes, from boulders to grains
of sand and even smaller.